Meri Duniya

Chapter 9

The next morning, Manik woke up and saw that Nandini was already up like always and she was putting away the blankets and pillows from the floor.

"Cabir aur Abhi ko lagna hai Nandini badai gayi hai...but Ill just be nice to her aur hoda attention dunga toh apne aap hi woh pehle jaise ho jayegi." Manik smirked at his BRILLIANT plan. He at up in bed and cleared his throat to get Nandini's attention. "Ahem!"

Nandini heard him but continued to do her work.

"Uhm....Good morning." Manik said. Nandini stopped and looked around confused as he usually just ignores her. "Nandini...main tumhe bol haha hoon. Good Morning!"

"Kyun? Kuch chahiye aapko?" Nandini asked.

"Matlab?"

"Matlab yeh...ki 5 saal mein aap peil baar mujhe Good Morning bol rahe hai...kuch toh def chahiye hoga aapko varna achanak se into attention?" Nandini asked.

"I...nahi main toh-"

"Rehne dijiye." Nandini just rolled her eyes and held up her palm. "Aap ki mood swings aap hi jaane. Mujhe bohot kaam hai, bachon ko bhi school ke liye ready karni hai."

"I can do that." Manik blurted out in an attempt to get some attention from Nandini. Nandini raised one eye brow at him.

"Aap? Bachon ko tayyar karenge?"

"Yeah...why not? How hard can it be?" Manik scoffed.

"Hm...thik hai phir. Aap bachon ko uthayiye, main kitchen mein bhabhiyon ki madat karti hoon." Nandini replied before walking away.

"How hard can it be? Mera dimaag kharab hai kya? I dont know the first thing about getting them ready! Par ab bol diya hai toh karna parega...after all mere hi bache hai." Manik mumbled to himself. He walked over to his sons room and saw Mayank sleeping spread all over the bed just like he usually sleeps. Seeing this, Manik chuckled. "Like father like son huh..."

He went to his bed and ruffled his hair to wake Mayank up. "Hey Champ...time to get up." 

"Hmmm...2 more minutes." Mayank mumbled out of habit. Manik looked at his watch confused.

"2 minutes mein aisa kya ho jayega?" He wondered. Hearing his Dad instead of his mom, Mayank got up and looked alarmed.

"Papa? Aap? Mumma ki tabiyat kharab hai kya?" Mayank asked.

"What? No!" Manik shook his head.

"Phir....undo chot lagi hai?" 

"No..."

"Toh....phir woh uthane kyun nahi aayi?" Mayank asked.

"Aisehi...maine socha main uthata hoon aaj...kyun? Nahi kar sakta kya?"

"Nahi..I mean haan, aap utha sakte ho...par usually you are too busy na...so that's why."

Manik felt bad that he didn't spend enough time with his kids. 

"Im sorry champ...aaj ke baad se Ill never be too busy for you guys." Manik promised. Mayank smiled and hugged him.

"Good Morning papa!"

Manik was startled and jumped up. "Aah! Princess...tu? You're already up? Par Maine toh uthaya hi nahi."

Aarohi giggled. "I know Papa...par main Mayank se pehle humesha uth jaati hoon. Acha avise...Im mostly ready par, mere baal usually Mumma banati hai."

"Oh...I can do that." Manik said.

"Really?"

"Haan...Idhar aao." Manik motioned for Aarohi to come closer. She handed him the brush and he stared for a good minute or two. "Vaise...karna kya hai?"